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Evie Smith
1
Wake Forest WAKEFORE (7-4, 2-1 ACC)
2
Winner Harvard HARV (8-1, 3-0 Ivy)
Wake Forest WAKEFORE
(7-4, 2-1 ACC)
1
Final
2
Harvard HARV
(8-1, 3-0 Ivy)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Wake Forest WAKEFORE 1 0 0 0 1
Harvard HARV 0 2 0 0 2

Game Recap: Field Hockey |

No. 8 Field Hockey Rallies Past No. 5 Wake Forest

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – A dramatic end to the first half propelled No. 8 Harvard field hockey to a 2-1 comeback win against No. 5 Wake Forest this afternoon at Berylson Field.

After conceding the opening goal in the first quarter, the Crimson seized momentum in the final moments of the second quarter, as first-year forward Evie Smith and senior forward Sage Piekarski capitalized on counter attacking chances to put Harvard ahead, 2-1, at the halftime break. From there, Harvard's defense of first-year Elin van Sante, senior Smilla Klas, and junior Paige Cornelius limited and contained a highly touted Wake Forest attack, only allowing three shots in the second half.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The day started with Wake Forest (7-4, 2-1 Atlantic Coast) controlling possession, as the visitors scored the opening goal of the day midway through the first quarter with a strike from senior forward Mia Schoenbeck.

Harvard's (8-1, 3-0 Ivy League) attack would come alive following the Demon Deacon's goal. With just under two minutes left in the first quarter, Harvard earned an attacking penalty corner, as junior midfielder and team captain Tilly Butterworth saw her shot deflected wide by Wake Forest sophomore keeper Ruby Butterfield.

The second quarter saw the Crimson keeping pushing for an equalizer, as Harvard recorded eight shots and three penalty corners, while the visitors only took one shot and did not attempt an attacking penalty corner in the second quarter.

With around three minutes left on the clock, Harvard pulled level. Senior midfielder and team captain Lara Beekhuis won the ball and immediately sparked a counterattack, as Piekarski spotted Smith in the circle. Smith kept her composure and put the chance away for her second goal of the year, 1-0.

Harvard's urgency paid off again moments later. The clock stood at 14 seconds as Beekhuis once again opened play for another counterattack. Junior midfielder Martha le Huray controlled the ball in the circle and fed the ball to Piekarski who put the ball into the cage with only 2 seconds on the clock to provide Harvard a 2-1 lead heading into the halftime intermission.

After 30 minutes of action, Harvard attempted nine shots while holding Wake Forest to only a pair of attempts in the first half.

The Crimson's excellent defensive play continued in the second half, as the Crimson silenced Wake Forest's attack for the remainder of the contest to earn the 2-1 victory. In the opening minutes of the third quarter, sophomore goalkeeper Linde Burger denied Wake Forest an equalizer, as Burger would record another pivotal kick save on a Demon Deacons penalty corner in the final two minutes of the third quarter.

At the end of the matchup, Harvard outshot Wake Forest, 14-5, as the Crimson limit an opponent to a single-digit shot tally for the seventh time this season. Wake Forest's five shots is a season low for the Demon Deacons.

HARVARD HIGHLIGHTS

  • Today's 2-1 win against No. 5 Wake Forest is the Crimson's first top five victory since the 2024 season, when No. 11 Harvard defeated No. 5 Saint Joseph's, 2-1, in overtime on Sunday, Oct. 27. Harvard defeats a top five opponent at Berylson Field for the first time in head coach Tjerk van Herwaarden's tenure.
  • With the victory, Harvard is 3-1 against ranked foes this season. Last year saw the Crimson collect nine wins against ranked programs.
  • Harvard is now 24-1 in its last 25 regular season contests.
  • Piekarski scores in back-to-back contests for the for the first time this season. The 2025 Ivy League Co-Offensive Player of the Year, Piekarski leads Harvard in both goals (5) and points (12) this season.
  • A native of Teddington, England, le Huray has recorded an assist in three-straight contests, tying her season-high for most consecutive matches with at least one assist.

UP NEXT

Harvard returns to the pitch on Friday, Oct. 9, as the Crimson host Cornell at Berylson Field. Push back is slated for 4:00 p.m. as all the action will air live on ESPN+.  

For all the latest on Harvard Field Hockey, follow the Crimson on Twitter (@HarvardFH) and Instagram (@harvardfieldhockey).
 
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